Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Unmanned Systems Specialist

🎯 Role Definition

An Unmanned Systems Specialist designs, integrates, operates, and sustains unmanned aerial systems (UAS), unmanned ground systems (UGS) and related autonomy solutions to deliver mission-capable platforms and actionable data. This role focuses on flight operations, payload integration, system testing, reliability engineering, compliance with aviation and safety regulations (e.g., FAA Part 107 / waivers, BVLOS approvals), and continuous improvement of autonomy, sensor processing, and command-and-control (C2) systems. The ideal candidate blends hands-on field experience, systems engineering discipline, and strong cross-functional communication to translate operational requirements into safe, effective unmanned solutions.

Primary keywords: unmanned systems, UAS, UAV, drone pilot, autonomy, payload integration, flight test, BVLOS, FAA Part 107, C2, ISR, sensor fusion, ROS.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

UAS Operator / Remote Pilot Technician
Avionics or Systems Technician (aerospace or defense)
Robotics Technician / Software Engineer (entry level with UAS focus)

Advancement To:

Senior Unmanned Systems Engineer / Lead UAS Engineer
Flight Test Lead or UAS Program Manager
Autonomy Architect / Principal Systems Engineer

Lateral Moves:

Payload Integration Engineer (EO/IR, LiDAR, SIGINT)
Mission Integration / Field Operations Lead

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Plan, prepare and execute unmanned system missions (air, ground, or maritime) end-to-end, including route planning, risk assessment, airspace authorization, crew assignments, and real-time mission monitoring to achieve operational objectives safely and on schedule.
Perform pre-flight, pre-deployment and pre-mission inspections and checklists for airframes, propulsion, avionics, telemetry, ground control stations, and payloads, documenting airworthiness and readiness in accordance with SOPs and regulatory standards.
Conduct post-flight and post-mission inspections, data offload, fault logging and root-cause analysis to capture lessons learned and drive continuous reliability improvements for platforms and payloads.
Integrate, install, and validate payloads (EO/IR cameras, LiDAR, SAR, multispectral sensors, communications relays, RF sensors) including mechanical mounting, power management, sensor timing and data link configuration to meet mission requirements.
Develop, execute and analyze flight test plans and performance verification tests for new airframes, autonomy algorithms, sensor suites, and ground control software to validate system-level requirements and recommend corrective actions.
Design and implement autonomy features (navigation, perception, obstacle avoidance, mission logic) in collaboration with software engineers using ROS, PX4/ArduPilot, MAVLink, or proprietary stacks, and validate through simulation and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) tests.
Author, update and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs), maintenance schedules, flight checklists, and emergency response procedures to maintain operational safety and compliance.
Lead and support BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) mission planning and waiver acquisition, including coordination with FAA/CAA, local air traffic control, and other stakeholders to secure flight authorizations and Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs).
Provide operator training and certification programs for remote pilots and payload operators, delivering classroom instruction, simulator training, and hands-on flight mentoring to maintain crew currency and competence.
Troubleshoot avionics, communications links, telemetry, GNSS/RTK issues, and power systems in field conditions; perform component-level diagnostics, firmware updates, and coordinate repairs or part replacements to restore mission readiness.
Manage configuration control and documentation for UAS fleets including parts tracking, firmware baselines, maintenance logs, and airworthiness records to support auditability and fleet sustainment.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams (systems engineering, software, data science, procurement, and program managers) to translate mission requirements into system specifications and integration plans.
Execute sensor data processing workflows (georeferencing, orthorectification, mosaicking, feature extraction) and provide operationally relevant intelligence products, metadata, and quality control reports to stakeholders.
Support field deployments and expeditions in austere or contested environments, including vehicle transport, mission setup, contingency planning, and on-site technical support under time-constrained conditions.
Conduct risk assessments, safety case development, and safety management system (SMS) activities including hazard logs, mitigations, and incident reporting to uphold organizational and regulatory safety standards.
Maintain and administer ground control stations, mobile command centers, networked telemetry infrastructure and secure communications (satcom, LTE, mesh, point-to-point RF) to ensure robust C2 links for deployed assets.
Lead vendor evaluations and coordinate procurement for airframes, sensors, spare parts, and specialized tooling; negotiate service-level agreements and manage vendor technical performance.
Contribute to prototyping and research efforts by building rapid demonstrators, test harnesses, and experimental payload integrations to explore new capabilities and reduce technical risk for programs.
Implement cybersecurity and data protection practices for UAS systems, including secure boot, firmware validation, encrypted telemetry links, access control, and data-at-rest protections for sensitive payload outputs.
Monitor emerging UAS regulations, airspace management (UTM) developments, and industry best practices; adapt internal procedures and training to remain compliant and competitive.
Prepare technical briefings, mission reports, and decision-support materials for program leadership and external customers, summarizing capability performance, anomalies, and improvement recommendations.
Support cost estimates, sustainment planning, and lifecycle management for unmanned systems to optimize fleet availability, maintainability, and total cost of ownership.
Coordinate with local authorities, landowners and partner organizations to obtain permissions, ensure community engagement and deconfliction during flight operations and field activities.
Provide second-line technical support for escalated troubleshooting, liaise with OEMs for warranty repairs or design fixes, and drive corrective action requests when persistent defects are identified.

Secondary Functions

Support development and maintenance of mission planning and data analysis toolchains by capturing user requirements and validating software releases in operational contexts.
Assist program managers with scheduling, resource allocation, and logistics planning for recurring training and field operations.
Maintain an organized inventory of spare parts, batteries and consumables; forecast part demand and participate in procurement planning to avoid mission downtime.
Participate in customer-facing demonstrations, capability briefings and trade show exhibits to showcase platform performance and support business development.
Mentor junior operators and technicians, fostering skills transfer and building a bench of qualified personnel across operational units.
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives including lessons-learned sessions, after-action reviews and process optimization for maintenance and flight operations.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proven operational experience with unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and/or unmanned ground systems (UGS), including routine and advanced flight operations.
Remote pilot certification experience (e.g., FAA Part 107, CAA permissions) and hands-on permit/waiver preparation for BVLOS, night operations, and airspace integration.
Payload integration expertise with EO/IR, LiDAR, multispectral, SAR, communications relays, or SIGINT sensors; ability to handle sensor calibration and data validation.
Flight test planning and execution skills including telemetry analysis, HIL simulation, performance characterization and test reporting.
Familiarity with common autopilot and middleware stacks (PX4, ArduPilot, MAVLink) and autonomy software frameworks (ROS / ROS2).
Strong avionics and communications troubleshooting (GNSS/RTK, telemetry radios, mesh/LTE, satcom) and experience performing firmware upgrades and radio tuning.
Experience with mission planning software (commercial or open-source), flight management systems, and ground control station configuration.
Proficiency with sensor data processing and geospatial tools (GDAL, QGIS, Agisoft/Metashape, OpenCV, GIS workflows) and an understanding of georeferencing and orthomosaicking.
Programming or scripting experience (Python, Bash, MATLAB) for automation, data processing pipelines, and simple algorithm prototyping.
Systems engineering aptitude: requirements analysis, integration planning, configuration management and documentation of technical baselines.
Familiarity with security best practices for embedded systems and operational networks, including encryption, access control and supply chain risk considerations.
Ability to read and interpret electrical/mechanical schematics, perform bench-level electronics work, and support hardware repair or modification.
Experience with maintenance management systems, CMMS logs, parts lifecycle management, and preventive maintenance processes.
Knowledge of human factors, crew resource management and safety management systems (SMS) relevant to UAS operations.

Soft Skills

Clear, concise technical communication skills for operational briefings, written reports, training, and customer interactions.
Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis capabilities, able to prioritize actions under operational pressure.
Collaborative team player comfortable working across engineering, operations, logistics and customer teams.
Attention to detail and disciplined approach to documentation, checklists and compliance requirements.
Adaptability and composure in dynamic field environments with changing requirements or degraded system performance.
Mentoring and training aptitude to build operator proficiency and drive continuous skills development.
Customer-focused mindset with the ability to translate technical constraints into operational trade-offs and recommendations.
Good project planning and time management skills to manage multiple concurrent missions, deployments, or integration tasks.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a closely related technical discipline; or equivalent military/industry experience with demonstrated UAS expertise.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field; additional certifications in aviation safety, project management (PMP) or human factors are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Aerospace Engineering
Robotics / Autonomous Systems
Electrical / Electronics Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Computer Science / Software Engineering
Geospatial Science / Remote Sensing

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–10 years of progressive, hands-on experience in unmanned systems operations, integration, flight test, or sustainment.

Preferred:

5+ years operating and integrating UAS in operational or R&D environments, including experience securing regulatory approvals and leading field deployments.
Demonstrated record of managing complex integrations (sensors, communications, autonomy) and producing traceable documentation, test plans, and operational deliverables.